Autism and SPD

Random question. How does a Developmental Pediatrician, who specializes in the diagnosis of Autism and related disorders, not acknowledge and believe SPD exsist? Is that even possible, seriously?

And what happens to the families or where would they go? Esp if there is only that one doctor in your area.

Milipeder

Enzo was describing this long black worm with a whole bunch of legs that he saw on Animal Planet. He says the males are huge. When asked what it was he insisted that it's called a 'milipeder'.

So I look up this new fascination of his.... when I showed him a few pictures online, he verified that it indeed was his 'milipeder'

Enzo's 'milipeder' (aka milipede)

I know one day I'll miss Enzo's mispronounciations. So for now we're content with his wankagoos, eye-tacs, and milipeders.

Eye-tacs

Enzo: Mom you need to wear your eye-tacs.
me: Wear my what?
Enzo: Wear your eye-tacs because you are not very pretty with glasses.
me: What are eye-tacs?
Enzo: You know, your eye-tacs so you can see. I don't like you with glasses. You haven't weared your eye-tacs in a long time.

Thanks Enzo....

An Appeal

Dear Confused Florida Weather,

The chill in the air you are so graciously providing is turning my Enzo into a sensory mess. Please make up your mind - cold or warm?

Better yet, how about leaving us with consistently beautiful, yet breezy, spring weather...one that will leave Enzo focusing his sensory energies elsewhere. =)

Love,
Me

PS. Please reconsider your cold wet days too. The sound of your raindrops, along with the chill in the air, keeps the yoga ball occupied...A LOT! I'm sure Mr. Yoga Ball would appreciate a break, as would my arms and back. Feel free to use the picture below as inspiration for your decision. Thanks.

For the PE Bully

Dear Bully's Mom,
If your child is pushing again next week, I will not keep Enzo's sensory issues in check so when your child goes to push him, he will most likely respond with "fight or flight" mode then maybe your 4 year old will remember not to push Enzo again.

Sincerely,
Enzo's mom

PS...it doesn't really matter to me that your child is only 4 especially since your 4 year old is about the same size all the other kids he's knocking over (on purpose).

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!

So it's pretty obvious that Enzo loves loves loves animals. Creepy crawly things??? Not so much. I don't think Enzo will be choosing to learn about spiders for science anytime soon.

Yesterday, as we're getting ready for Ethan's soccer practice, I hear Enzo scream like a girl. Around here, that's pretty normal. When I went to check out what the fuss was about, there was this big furry spider sitting in the hallway with Enzo standing at his bedroom door screaming. So I stand there yelling for Ethan to grab the bug spray and I'm telling Enzo to back up (This spider was not your ordinary sit in the corner of your house kind). I didn't want to take my eyes off the furry thing to make sure we don't lose him, when all of a sudden it starts running towards Enzo's room.

Enzo runs to his bed screaming mad "NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!"

Oh I was laughing so hard I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to see where that spider was! Long story short, we left for soccer practice without finding the nasty spider, but then Daddy came to the rescue and made the spider's head explode when he got home. =D

Wangkagoo

Thursday afternoon is usually Speech Therapy day for Lizzie and Enzo.  So Melissa, the speech therapist, was working with Enzo and showing him pictures of different animals (he LOVES LOVES LOVES animals).  They get to this picture, and he stops a moment to think and yells out "Wangkagoo!"

How cute is that...Melissa did point out that one day he's not gonna have all these cute mispronunciations and that I should enjoy the moment.  She's right, Enzo has already lost a lot of his babble.  No more 'lellow' for 'yellow' or 'twuck' for 'truck' or 'fink' for 'think'.  Although he still says 'I sought' for 'I thought'. But my favorite is still 'Long long way ago'.

So for now 'Wangkagoo' it is...

Strangers on a Walkie-Talkie

Who's idea was it to let Enzo and E play with walkie-talkies??  Goodness, they are naturally loud anyway when they play.  But oh my!  With the walkie-talkies, they try to out talk each other, very loudly!

Enzo's walkie-talkie kept picking up someone else's signal.  So he's wanting to talk to strangers and I kept saying no, it's not safe.  Well I decided to be an evil mom and play a little trick on Enzo.  First I told Enzo he needed to shut his bedroom door so E could hear him better (it was partially true...haha)

So of course he goes to his room and proceeds to talk to E...after a few minutes of yelling back and forth into the walkie-talkie, E tattles that Enzo said a bad word.  So I took it from E and started talking to Enzo...

Me: Did you say a bad word?
Enzo: NO! I said baba-booboo

Enzo (talking to himself): ooh that's a stranger!

Me: Are you allowed to talk to strangers?
Enzo: No
Me: Then why are you talking to me?
Enzo (talking to himself): oh no it's a bad guy
*I can hear him shuffling around his room and he paces out to the living room and runs back to his room

Me: Sometimes strangers can be bad guys.  But you shouldn't talk to strangers
Enzo: (yells something angry that I couldn't understand)
Me: Why are you so angry?
Enzo: Because you're a bad guy stranger (and he says more that I can't understand)
*He runs back out to the living room to tell me there's a stranger trying to talk to him. Then he runs back to his room and shuts the door.

Me: Why did you close your door Enzo?
*Enzo screams and shuffles around his room while saying something angry.
Me: Bad guys don't like angry kids Enzo.

By this time, Enzo was terrified.  He comes running outta his room and hands me the walkie-talkie and explains he doesn't want to talk right now because he's tired.  He sits on the couch with his cheeks sucked in, and heart racing.

HAHA ok it was funny but to see him that scared was bad since he's a pretty anxious child anyway.  I did tell him it was me and I let him listen to me say stuff.  The relief on his face was too funny!

It was a little mean tho because now he doesn't want to have anything to do with the walkie-talkie...poor baby!

pssst Listen...

Do you hear that?

washing machine running, dish washer running, E's machines running...ahh the sound of silence in our crazy crazy home...

Ahhh the sound of 3 kids in bed by 9:30pm....

PS. Enzo lives here remember?  The child didn't come with volume control nor a pause button ;)  ooh a slow motion feature would be kinda cool!

I'm drowning in my zoo!

Ok I have to keep this short because my zoo is calling...

This is E's 2nd day home...E is starting to come down with a cold or something, but simple illnesses are always more complicated for children with a ventilator and a trach.  Enzo is flipping out because of the change in routine and workers/nurses that are in and out of our home and just not having more time for him.  Ethan's legs and ankles have cramped up again where he can barely walk (he gets like this once to twice a year).  Toots has been sick so he's jumped ship for a little while.

Toots started with a bad toothache that spread to his face and neck. Meds weren't working and he couldn't handle it anymore so he went to the ER at 215am only to been seen by a Dr at 730am for 5 mins and gave him meds without looking at anything else.  But by this afternoon he's been super dizzy and nauseous (not sure if it's the meds or not)

My zoo is outta control!  I'm out numbered by kids that all need and want attention...so pray quick!

ps....all this with an hour and a half of sleep.  i thought having an overnight nurse meant sleep for me??

He belly-laughs

Enzo has never really been a TV a kid, unless of course it's Cars Movie or Herbie.  But this past week I'll hear him belly-laughing in the play room, only to find him watching Tom and Jerry.  And everyday this week he has asked for me to find it if the TV isn't on the right channel.

I feel bad, coz my child is watching TV!

No monster in the clouds

Enzo was in the kitchen finishing a snack, I was in my room helping Ethan with school, and the rain was pouring and thunder was roaring.  As the last roll or thunder ended, we hear Enzo say "Do it again monster!"

Ethan and I were cracking up, then Ethan said, "That's not a monster, that's Jesus in the clouds."

Use your eyes not your mouth!

My grandmother use to always say that to me when I as little, and I always say that to Ethan when he's in a hurry to find something that is already in front of him but can't seem to find...As we're getting ready to leave the house, I ask Ethan to put shoes on Enzo.  So Enzo is searching high and low for his shoes, while saying "Where's mah shoes?  where's mah shoes?"

Enzo's quest quickly turns to whining (I'm starting to learn to tune this out *yay for me*) because he can't find his shoes and I hear Ethan yell "Use your eyes not your mouth!" Then Enzo is walking around the house with his hand over his mouth and eyes wide open.  So I ask him what he's doing, then he says, "Kuya said use your eyes not your mouth. So I am!"

My boys are funny...

Battle of the wills

it's more like 'Battle of the Ormeos'.  sheesh when will it end...being a mommy to two kids is really kicking my butt....well hmmm being a mommy to a STRONG WILLED and 'walk the edge coz i feel like it' toddler is really pushing my buttons...it doesn't help that we're all so strong willed...ahah God really has a sense of humor...